Discover Germany | Business | Architect of the Month, Austria
Left: Robert Blaschke: founder raumbau architekten. Photo: © Eva trifft Top right: Exceptional shell: private villa in Upper Austria. Photo: © raumbau architekten Below right: In the flow: luxurious spa- and wellnesshotel (planning phase). Photo: © raumbau architekten
ARC HITE C T OF THE MON TH, A UST R IA
TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI
Poetic ground contact raumbau architekten serve the human being in both a functional and aesthetic way, while keeping an expert eye on the economic framework. As a building is never an end in itself, but rather forms a vibrant addition to the surrounding landscape, the architects strongly believe in adaptive individuality. “As much as every design is an aesthetic expression, a new building must never look like a foreign object,” emphasises office founder Robert Blaschke. Due to this flexible approach, no raumbau building resembles the other. Adapting to the surrounding landscape while at the same time creating an individual appearance is a balancing act that raumbau architekten enjoy. Emotions meet function The interdisciplinary team of architects and interior designers looks at projects from a holistic perspective, designing 76 | Issue 66 | September 2018
them from the inside out: “A functioning, logically designed interior is paramount,” Robert Blaschke explains, “and an emotionally charged room serves the future life and work of the inhabitant immensely!” Another special focus lies with intelligent and innovative building technology. Thus, a building structure that follows both functional and poetic prerequisites becomes a key challenge.“And of course,” says Robert Blaschke, “the economic aspects are never to be ignored.” Rooted in craft and economy Born into a family of carpenters, Robert Blaschke was infiltrated with the ‘interior bug‘ at an early age: “I am still the one at the office who thinks in terms of craft.” The self-made man worked with
a renowned Salzburg architect before founding raumbau architekten at the age of 35. Additional qualifications as property trustee and developer resulted in the new emphasis on economic expertise, which has earned raumbau many national and international clients in the field of project development. At this point in time, raumbau architekten are internationally present, with projects ranging from hotels to private clinics to villas in Spain, Germany and Austria. raumbau clients are drawn by the interplay between high emotionality and function as much as they value the economic focus. And the roots in carpentry still take hold: The office has recently won the German Design Award for their sculptural ‘Lohberger T1 – Küchenblock’ kitchen island, designed in collaboration with star chef Roland Trettl.